Collision-proof paper or fiber walled container



1964 J. J. GALBIERZ ETAL 3,162,348

COLLISION-PROOF PAPER OR FIBER WALLED CONTAINER Filed May 27, 1963 F lG. 5.

, INVENTORS JEROME J.GALBIERZ PETER J. DITTO ATTORNEY United StatesPatent Ofitice 3,162,348 Patented Dec. 22, 1964 a corporation ofMissouri Filed May 27, 1963, Ser. No. 283,161 3 Claims. (Cl. 229-56)This invention relates to containers with a tubular body and endclosures secured to the body by a protruding rolled seam, and morespecifically to containers with paper, or fiber, tubular bodies providedwith metal end closures seamed thereto which will prevent materialdamage to the walls of the body due to a collision with the rolled seamof an adjacent container in a shipping carton.

The invention has general utility for containers of the can type andespecially for the larger sizes. The invention finds particular utilityin cans of the larger sizes used for packaging fluids, for example,containers of the quart size, or larger, used in packaging motor oil.

Taking the oil can example as illustrative of the problem, quart sizecans with metal foil lined fiber walls and sheet metal ends are now incommon usage for the purpose. Oil is a relatively heavy substance, and,because it is a fluid, it lends no support to the can structure. Thepackagers deliver the cans in shipping cartons which vary in size andshape but are similar in one respect, that is, a plurality of cans areplaced side by side in a rectangular corrugated fiberboard box of theproper size to confine a certain number of rows with a given number ofcans in each row. Fiber walled cans of the fluid described are strongenough to resist damage when subject to expected rough handling, whenshipped in this manner. However, instances have occurred when the fiberwalls have been damaged during shipping, and this damage was so apparentas to cause the consignee to be concerned. In these instances, the fiberwall was damaged immediately adjacent the rolled head on the can end.

There is a readily explainable reason for this, and the identical damageis easily duplicated by dropping -a shipping carton ten or twelve feetonto a concrete floor so that the carton will strike on one end, or oneside. When the cans of oil are removed from the carton after such atest, it becomes very evident that the head on one can, slid off thebead on the next, and dented in the fiber wall. The dent itself is notparticularly serious, but, in some instances, the collision of the beadwith the fiber wall pulls the wall partly out of the head on the can endin which it is secured. Thus, it is reasoned that it the weight of thecontents, together with the length of free fall is great enough, some ofthe can walls might be dented so severely as to produce a leak at therolled seam between the can wall, or body, and the can end closure.

This invention has, as its primary object, to make the fiber walledcontainers collision-proof especially in this respect.

According to this invention, each end of a fiber bodied can is providedwith a novel form of end closure which, when applied to the can,provides an outer circumferential bead of the same rolled form as isusual, but, in addition, provides an inner bead adjacent, or in contactwith, the inner wall of the can body above the outer bead (between outerbeads). The inner bead is formed by crimping the metal of the can end sothat a reinforcement is provided internally of the can body which has aradial resistance to crushing comparable with the outer bead. Thisconstruction minimizes the damage due to collision of the outer bead ofone can with the wall of the body of the next at the adjacent outer beadof the next.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will appear from thefollowing detm'led description which is in such full, clear and conciseterms as will enable any person skilled in the art to make and use thesame when taken with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof,and in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration in top plan of a plurality of cans ina packing case, or shipping carton;

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration in side elevation of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration in side elevation showing the shiftin position of the cans under a typical impact situation when a packingcase, or carton, is dropped;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view in section of action which takes placeduring a typical collision between cans;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale illustrating acollision-proof type of can end; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view in section illustrating the action whichtakes place during a collision between cans provided withcollision-proof can ends.

This invention will be described as applied to cans which have amulti-ply body formed by spirally winding a paper outer ply overspirally Wound plies of paper and metal foil to form a foil lined canbody with a label. Metal can ends are applied to opposite open ends ofthis body by a process which seams the edges of the multi-ply body tothe can ends by simultaneously rolling an edge of the body into a beadat the edge of a can end as this bead is formed. After one can end isapplied in this manner, the can is filled and the opposite can endapplied in the same way. The filled cans are then packed in a shippingcase, usually of corrugated fiberboard, or the like, fordelivery.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a shipping case, or carton, 10 packed with a dozencans, indicated as 11-22, ready for shipping. The carton 10 does not usedividers between rows of cans becauseof extra cost. Consequently, cans11-22, when packed, are in contact one with another at the beads in thecan ends top and bottom of each can. As will be apparent, some cans willbe in contact at two points spaced ninety degrees apart on the "beads ofthe can ends top and bottom, others at three points, and

still others at four points top and bottom.

Rough handling, during shipping of the cartons, is unavoidable and itoften occurs that cartons fall from a stack several feet high. Shouldthe case hit the floor on an end, a corner, or a side, instead of flaton its top or bottom, then the action which takes place is illustratedin FIG. 3. The bead on one can end rides over. the bead on the next atthe point of contact, and the beads collide violently with the body ofthe next adjacent can at a location on the body beside a bead. In FIG.3, cans 19, 20, 21 and 22 are shown during this action to illustratewhat might be termed a typical collision between cans due to impact.

The damage which can result from collision is shown on an enlarged scalein FIG. 4, especially is this possible if the cans contain a heavyliquid such as a motor oil. At impact, the bead 30 on the metal can end29 of can 26 rides up the bead 33 of the metal can end 28 on the can 19,and, if the force of the collision is great enough, the bead 30 dentsthe body 34 of the can 19 as at 35. Should the impact of the case begreat enough, it is entirely possible for the collision between cans 19and 20 to actually cause the edge 36 of body 34 to be partially pulledaway from the bead 33. If this occurs, there is a good possibility ofoil leakage from can 19 due to collision damage. One possible manner ofpreventing collision damage of this kind would be to increase the sizeof the beads 30 and 33 so that protection is afiiorded further along thecan body from the end. Another obvious way would be to eliminate thebeads 30 and 33 by causing them to project endwise to the cans insteadof outcarts in a 'shipprn wardly of the can walls. I N 'ther of thesesolutions is aaraefive however, f6r several reasons. changes; such asthis, require extensive cha'riges in machinery, and the present beads,such as 311 and 33 0111116 cans, are;loo ke d up aa v'vi th'fa'voriinder most instances because they supv a s the cans are Handledindividually, the can be rolled on these beads, rather than age, or theprin thecanb vide protectn. I V V 4, invention provides a "olu't'o'nwithout a change in assembling machines, or the eliminationof theoutwardly protruding head on the can end which bead functions norm-allyto prefect the outside er the fhody}, One exam-- ple of thisinv'entio'ri'i's illustrated in FlGS. 5 and 6, closure 50,is crimpedcircu-mferentially at 110 to roan a first bead, anew- 56a circiifriferen'tially at 42 to form a second beau ojr 's'hoi'ilder toreinforce the firstl, Lip 41 is'rblld onto the ed e of a eanb I same wayan d by the same machinery as the can ends wfi F Gr l-tv .7

some erthe advanta es seemingfr m thiscliange in 'Whenstafcked, thebeads space can ends is illustrated 6, Heretw o were.

and 20' strewn, during v Each can is proy ided with l 3., v a can ed-59; when seem d tethe c n il'q' and 20', eaded edge, such a eieee we a i2 4 5b 8 -65 he i n, t tak s Plac he. e e t s illustrated in FIG. 6 bythe action er the b'ea'd52 whiehrides tt ead 1 4 ii trik s, theg f jiwan '4. th an '19: The censtruction or can end 50 is such that in ternalbeadflfl is positioned internally of the can wall 34' ,approiiinately ne rattan] i the zone r impact el eve the .4 refin m n b ad; 4 g e r e athe 'q i i ap'r, cushion between w W ll 12 a shock absorber e s is 'p'bdu' s a 91 s "bt ly ccl i fi h t f an extremely remote can',, but alsoin Itction and einforcement. Whenon the labels, would Kain v a 5 4 t e V4 i Bead 42 provides added strength to the first bead 40 by'stiifeningeach edge of the cylindrical ring of metal formed in the end closure 50between circumferential crimps 40 and 42. This'stiffening ringdistributes the force of a collision at one point and avoidsconcentratubular body, and a circumferential rolled seam between i theedges oif said can ends and the edges of said can body forming aprotective head at each end of the can body protruding outwardly of thecan end around the sides of the body, the improvement for eliminatingdamage to one can body from the beads on an adjacent can located side byside/when can tilting during a collision between cans ina shippingcarton is caused by an impact on the shipping carton, comprising, I

(a) a second circumferential bead with a radial resistance to crushingcomparable with said rolled seam located on one of said'can ends spacedinwardly of one of said protective beads and extending toward and alongthe .inside'of the can body within the can from said protective beadtoward the opposite can end to back up the can body in a circumferentialzone Within a width less than a bead width of said protective bead whenthe beads on adjacent side by side cans slip out of protective contactwith one another byt-ilting which displaces the cans relatively axiallyduring a collision. 2. Thecombination as defined in claim 1 in which thecan is a tubular fiber body, the can ends are of metal. 3. Thestructuredefined in claim 1 andsaid second circumferential bead forming anannular offset shoulder around the inside-ofeach can end, the Width ofsaid shoulder being sufiicient to provide the reinforcement required forforming and for subsequent operation.

mistakes Cited the file of this patent Switzerland Jan. 31, 1938

1. IN A CAN HAVING A TUBULAR BODY, CAN ENDS ON SAID TUBULAR BODY, AND ACIRCUMFERENTIAL ROLLED SEAM BETWEEN THE EDGES OF SAID CAN ENDS AND THEEDGES OF SAID CAN BODY FORMING A PROTECTIVE BEAD AT EACH END OF THE CANBODY PROTRUDING OUTWARDLY OF THE CAN END AROUND THE SIDES OF THE BODY,THE IMPROVEMENT FOR ELIMINATING DAMAGE TO ONE CAN BODY FROM THE BEADS ONAN ADJACENT CAN LOCATED SIDE BY SIDE WHEN CAN TILTING DURING A COLLISIONBETWEEN CANS IN A SHIPPING CARTON IS CAUSED BY AN IMPACT ON THE SHIPPINGCARTON, COMPRISING, (A) A SECOND CIRCUMFERENTIAL BEAD WITH A RADIALRESISTANCE TO CRUSHING COMPARABLE WITH SAID ROLLED SEAM LOCATED ON ONEOF SAID CAN ENDS SPACED INWARDLY OF ONE OF SAID PROTECTIVE BEADS ANDEXTENDING TOWARD AND ALONG THE INSIDE OF THE CAN BODY WITHIN THE CANFROM SAID PROTECTIVE BEAD TOWARD THE OPPOSITE CAN END TO BACK UP THE CANBODY IN A CIRCUMFERENTIAL ZONE WITHIN A WIDTH LESS THAN A BEAD WIDTH OFSAID PROTECTIVE BEAD WHEN THE BEADS ON ADJACENT SIDE BY SIDE CANS SLIPOUT OF PROTECTIVE CONTACT WITH ONE ANOTHER BY TILTING WHICH DISPLACESTHE CANS RELATIVELY AXIALLY DURING A COLLISION.